Automatic train-pipe coupling.



( y' JAW Nb, 834,271. K PA'TBNTED ocT. 3o, 1906.

` *G. A. ELWBLL. A

AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE-GOUPILTNG.

. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 19, 1906.

w,-AATJ v MJ UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIOE. i

` GEORGE A.y ELWELL,` OE TOLEDO, OHIO.

AUTOMATIC TAlN-PIPE COUPLING. f

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented oct. ao, 190e.

Application nga Fanny 1a, 1906. serial No. 301,336.

To allwh'om it may concern:

Beit known that I, GEORGE A. ELWELL, of Toledo, count of Lucas, and State of Ohio, have invente certain -new and useful Imrovements in Automatic/,Train-,Pipe Coupand I do hereb declare that the following is a full, clear, an exact descrip tion of the invention, whichwill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the'same, reference being had to the ac.

companying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification. l

My invention has reference to means for coupling train-pipes carrying fluids, such as 'air and steam, under pressure; and it has for its ,object to provide a device of this character which shall 'be .simple in construction, comprising few arts, being readily assembled, and not liable to get out of order, land which shall be'positive and automatic in operation. 1

To this end my invention comprises the novel combination, arrangement, and detalls' of-construction hereinafter shown, described,l

. and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the 'accompanying drawings, illustrative of my invention, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improvedtrain-pipe coupling attached to a car, the body o e device being partl in section to dlsclose thecoupling mem er in retracted position therein. Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the relative arrangement of the coupler the cou ler-bod an the sprin' which t ecoup er is suspende from a car` being removed. Fig. 3 isa view like Fig.2 and showing the altered position ofthe parts after the coupling operation, and Fig. 4 is an end view ofthe coupler-,body and the male and female coupling ends of the coupling member therein.

Referring to the details or construction 1 l indicates a car, and 2 the usual car-coup er operating between the sills 3 .Y

In the practical application of my invention I employ two like coupling devices which cooperate to couple the train-pipe together. Smcethe are identical in construction, the detailed escri tion will be confined t'o one.

' Suspended om the car-body by suitable spring-hangers 4 to permit free lateral and vertical movement and to also holdthe same inv positionfor coupling engagement is acast parts, the upperlpartlpf angers y' body 5, having upper and lower sections or parts 6 and 7 and confining the yieldi coupling member 8. The forward face 9 113% .the body 5 is adapted to contact with the face of .the opposlte coupling device, and therefore receives the initlal coupling shock when two cars are coupled together. To insure true alined connection between the contactindg faces; of the coupler-bodies, ,there is` provl 11, the projection on the -face ofv the one couphng device being adapted to enter the d on each of said faces a corneal 1 lprojection 10 and lcomplementary recesses'65 recess in the face of the other and provide interengaging connection. The coupling member 8 is a hollow casting ymounted to slide longitudinally in the body 5,'and the same has a laterally-extended portion 12 projecting lthrough and operatin alonga slot 13 in the side of the body. T e portionv i 12 is connected with the train-pi e in any suitable manner. At its forwar end the coupling member 8 is divided in to two .branches 14 and 15, one of which has a coni-v ortion' 14l 'nectinglsortion 15', a gasket 16, disposed in cal projecting male connecting and the other a conical recessed kemale con-` an ann ar groove in the.- female coupling portion, insuring a tight j oint when the parts are in coupled relation.

The branching ends 14 and 15 having the4 its rear en the body of the coupling device line with the main portion of. the coupling member 8, and upon said bar is provided an 'enlargement 22, operating in a spring-chamber 23 and contacting with one end of said `lsmounted to slide upon a bar 21,-disposed in roo chamber to prevent the withdrawal of the' body from Ithe bar when the body is in out Ward positionand there is dis osed within the chamber 23 to surround t e bar 2,1 a

coiledsp-ring 24, pressing. at .one end against Free longitudinal movement of the body upon thejbar 21 is ermitted by reason of the suspension of the odyf'rom the `car bythe hanger-'springs 4.' At its outerV end the bar 2 1 ro is provided With aball-and-so'cket joint 25 to permit limited vertical o r lateral movement of the body. yThe socket 26 of the joint is rigidly sup orted in anysuitable' manner by the car-bo y; Interposed between the bar 21 and the cou ling member 8 is a normally expanded coile spring 27, adapted when the body has been forced inward by couplin engagement to cause the branching-endsuo the coupling member 'tp be projected through the 2o openings in the facet)l of the body and main- 'tain the male and female coupling ends upon said branchesin .yielding contact with those ofthe coperating coupling devi'ce.

'28 is a coiled s ring of lighter tension than 2 5 the, spring 27. e same beingv disposed in a recess in the body and rojecting into the slot 13 engages the latera extension 12 ofthe cou ling member, holding the latter norma y retracted 'lvvithin the body when the A30 coupling devices areuncoupled.

The operation of y my' improved coupling device is asiollows: When in uncou led relation, the parts of each cou ling evice assume the relative positions s own in Figs. 1

and 2. When the parts are thus disposed With relation to each other, the spring 27 will exertpractically no pressure against the innerlend ofthe couplin member 8, the latter being vtherefore readi y` maintained in re- 4o tractedl position within the, body by the spring 28. The male and female coupling ends of the coupling member being also retracted within the body, said ends being rather fragile will be protected ylromdamage resulting from violent impact of the coupling operation. The impact of the coupling operation is therefore directed against the fac-- ing ends of the couplers, which being massive ,castings are practically free from damage.

5o The instant the end faces of the couplerb'odies contact the openings 17 and 18 therethrough Will be alined by reason of theconical projections 10 entering the recesses 11, and as each couplerbody is forced inwardly by thecoupling contact to assume the position shown in Fig. 3 both lcoupling members will be -forced outwardly by the action of the bar 2,1. and the coiled spring27 of each device, the spring 27 maintaining .the male and fe- 5o male coupling ends of the devices 'in yielding contact and insuring a positive connection at all times. Although lI have illustrated and herein described means for coupling a single train- 55 pipe, it is apparent that the-same may be -diately above the other an ings-in the body, substantiall as descri ed.

ythe body is in coucpling engagement, substanduplicated to permit its employment for both air `and j. steam lines,"tl1'e arrangement for two lines embodying tw coupling members disposed Within the bo thefone immeeach operating 7o independently of the other.

'What I claim, and desire to secure by Lett'ers Patent, is

1. In a train-pipe coupling, an outer bumper-body, and a coupling member movable Within the body and having coupling ends normally retracted therein, substantially. as described'.l

2. In va train-pipe coupling, an outer bum er-body having end openings, and a cou ing member having'coupling ends normal y retracted in said openings, substantially as described.

`3. In a train-pipe coupling, an outer. bumper-body having an {elongatedslot in its side, and a coupling member having coupling ends normally retracted in the body, sai 4cou ling member also havinga laterally-exten ing portion adapted for connection with the train-pipe and disposed to operate along the slot 1n the body, substantially as described.

4. In a train-pipe coupling, an outer bumper-body having end oi Venings, a coupling member slidablein the ody and havin coupling ends normally retracted Within sai end openings, and means for projecting said coupling ends through the end openings When thebody is in coupling contact, su stantially as described.

5.1In, a trainpipe couplingf an outer bumper-body havin end openings, a coupling member slidab e Within the body and having coupling ends normally retracted Within said end openin s, means for projecting said coupling ends t rough the end openings, and means for subjecting the coupling member to yielding pressure when the coupling ends thereof are projected in the o en- IOO TIO 6. In a ltra n: ipipe'coup ing, an outer bumper-bodyhavin end openings, a cou lin member slidab y dis osed within tige bo y and -having male an female coupling ends, -means-for normally maintaining the cou lingends retracted within the openings in t e body, and means for projecting said coupling ends through said openingsy when tially as describe 7. In a train-pipe coupling, a body suspended from a car to permit universal move-` ment, a bar slidably connected with the inner end-i/the body, a spring engagingthe bar and normallyholding the bodyinoutward position, a cou ling member slidably dis-' osed in the bo y and normally maintained .1n retracted position therein, and'a sprin 1nterposedbetweemsaid bar and the coup ing membento causethe latter tube projected in l1 3o end openin the body under yielding pressure when theA body is mcoupled engagement, substantially as described.

8-. In a train-pipe couplin a body having arranged side y side and having the projection 10 and the recess 11 adapted to allne the same when in cougled engagement with the op osite coupling evic'e, a bar ada ted to slida l support the rear end of the od said bar avmg a swinging connection wit a rigid support, an enlar ement upon the bar adapted to contact with t e body and limit its outward movement, a s ring disposed between the enlargement an the body and forcing the' latter in outward position, a. hollow coupling member slidable longitudinally within the body and having branches provided with male and female coupling en`ds .y ported by the body and pre'sslng against t e,

coupling member to normally hold the same in retracted position in the body, and a coiled sprin `interposed between the aforesaid bar and t e courpling member ada ted to yieldinglyl--hold t e latter projecte in the body When'f'the body is in coupling engagement With the opposite coupling device, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses. f l

GEORGE AQELWELL. Witnesses:

CARL H. KELLER, JUs'roN ZERKLE.I 4 

